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Nintendo Color-Codes Mature Game Boxes in Japan

by Matthew Blundon - January 22, 2010, 7:54 am EST
Total comments: 9 Source: SiliconEra

Zangeki no Reginleiv is the first game to get this special treatment.

Starting next month, all games published in Japan by Nintendo that receive a rating of CERO C or above will hit retailers in a special black box designed to warn parents of the mature nature of the title.

The first game to receive this special treatment will be Zangeki no Reginleiv, which is slated for a mid-February release. Reginleiv is also the first Wii game in Japan to receive a retail demo that gamers in the region can rent for free.

These special black boxes are currently only being used by Nintendo of Japan, and there's no word on whether or not Nintendo of America will apply a similar approach to their mature titles.

Talkback

KDR_11kJanuary 22, 2010

Some retailers here put high rated games into color coded anti-theft boxes that make it hard to see the actual game inside, maybe this'll make them stop that.

BlackNMild2k1January 22, 2010

We got a pic here: http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=30430.0

I really like the look of Reginleiv on a black case. I think there are some other games that might look good in black too.

Looks like a project for TheCoverProject.net(or is it .com?).

DeguelloJeff Shirley, Staff AlumnusJanuary 23, 2010

This is actually a good idea.  It's easier shorthand for parents than remembering a bunch of letters and it's approved for matoor gamers because they get cool looking black boxes.  It's win-win.

KDR_11kJanuary 23, 2010

There's also a pic for Mad World in a black box, looks fitting too.

Mop it upJanuary 23, 2010

Quote from: Deguello

It's easier shorthand for parents than remembering a bunch of letters

Parents seem to have no trouble remembering the letters for the ratings of movies, so why do videogames need to have something more obvious? If R-rated movies don't need to come in a different colour of case then why are videogames being held to a different standard?

King of TwitchJanuary 23, 2010

People don't go to the movies thinking their kids might gouge their eyes out or have to buy plastic peripherals

TJ SpykeJanuary 23, 2010

You are thinking here, ratings in Japan are different. Video game ratings there are A, B, C, D, and Z. It's much easier in other regions (ESRB has the age name right on the rating, like "Everyone" and "Teen"; PEGI uses the minimum age, so ratings like 3+ and 12+). Japanese movie ratings are more clear: "G", "PG-12", "R-15", "R-18".

As for R-Rated movies here in America, I won't even get into how ridiculous it is that some politicians want to make it illegal for stores to sell M rated games to children (something that thankfully every court so far has ruled to be unconstitutional) but they don't want to make it illegal to sell R rated movies to children.

DeguelloJeff Shirley, Staff AlumnusJanuary 24, 2010

Quote from: Mop_it_up

Quote from: Deguello

It's easier shorthand for parents than remembering a bunch of letters

Parents seem to have no trouble remembering the letters for the ratings of movies, so why do videogames need to have something more obvious? If R-rated movies don't need to come in a different colour of case then why are videogames being held to a different standard?

That's because they grew up with movies and are already familiar with those ratings.

Ian SaneJanuary 25, 2010

I don't know what the situation is in Japan, so I don't know how effective these boxes will be.  Here though the people that complain about the videogame ratings system usually come across as being incredibly stunned or just outright full of shit.  The dumb people won't notice the colour cases anyway.  And the other group is trying to stir up controversy so you could cover the cases entirely in warning stickers and make it sold behind the counter with no indication that the product is even sold in the store and they'll still run their mouth.

Deg's right in that it's an age thing.  Those who didn't grow up with videogames have no emotional attachment to them and thus don't understand them and would not care if they ceased to exist.  These same people don't want their movie experience compromised so they don't apply it to the same standard.  We'll see a change as those born after the ESRB's creation start having kids.

I'd just like different colour cases for different games period.  I always liked it when some cartridge games where a different colour.

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